Entry 3: Thoughts on Service

Coming from a family with strong Catholic beliefs, service has always been an integral aspect of my faith. I realize that I am extremely lucky to have been born into such a comfortable environment and given every opportunity to succeed in life. Because of these opportunities that have been presented to me, I feel it is truly my responsibility and the responsibility of the more fortunate to give as much help to people in life situations they have absolutely no control over. I feel that lending help to those in need is one of the most important things I can do with my life. It is my duty to provide support for those who have not been given the blessings that I frequently take for granted.
The Belize microlending project fits in perfectly with my beliefs. By being involved in the project I believe that I am making an enormous difference in the lives of the loan recipients. I view microcredit as a slightly different kind of service than what I would normally consider. Because the loans are to be repaid, microcredit acts differently than charity; however, one can easily see that through the high success rates of microlending that this project helps loan recipients more than if they were just simply given a donation. Improving the livelihood of the loan recipients is the ultimate goal with this project, and I believe that goal has and will continue to be accomplished. Microlending in Belize is a particularly unique project because it allows us to help those who we would normally not have the opportunity of reaching.